Lewis: Division flags raised, focus shifts to playoffs

John Lewis @JohnLewis19

Thursday

May 16, 2019 at 8:00 AM

A weekly look at Burlington County high school softball

The Burlington County Scholastic League's division races came to a fascinating end on Friday , with the last two flags going to Northern Burlington — as everyone pretty much expected — and Delran, which practically no one expected.

Bordentown made the Greyhounds' sprint to the tape interesting when they took a 1-0 lead in the seventh inning of what was ultimately the clinching game, but Northern pitcher Haylei Archer hit a solo home run to tie the game, and two pivotal moments swung it the Greyhounds' way in the 10th.

The first came with Bordentown batting in the 10th, when Brianna Fischer, on second base under the international tiebreaker, was thrown out attempting to steal third. It was a big play at the time and became a huge play a moment later, when Jenna Ryan hit a single to right field that probably would have given the Scotties the lead.

Despite all that, Bordentown was right to try for the base right there. Northern Burlington had third baseman Hannah Alexander in close to play a bunt, and Bordentown coach Nicole O'Leary doubtless noticed on the previous pitch that Alex Walsh, the Greyhounds' shortstop, was a step slow in reacting when Fischer broke for third when Ryan fouled off a bunt attempt.

And remember, Madison Sisz is Northern Burlington's regular shortstop. She was injured and out of the lineup. This is not a knock on Walsh, who's been solid. It's merely worth pointing out that the idea — that someone who's not a regular player could beat Fischer to third, possibly have to make a running catch, turn and apply a tag — was a proposition worth gambling against.

As it turned out, it didn't work. Walsh got a quicker jump and got there first and Northern Burlington catcher Julia Mayernik made a perfect throw, so that Fischer basically slid into the tag.

It just called to mind something Holy Cross coach Mike Sacca said earlier this season. He referred to moments like this as “pure softball,” — the chess match going on underneath everything else — and he was right: the moments where it comes to the fore are particularly enjoyable.

The Greyhounds' Megan Berg brought the winning run across with a squeeze bunt in the home 10th. There's nothing to add to that, except the video is worth watching.

Anyway, Kudos to the Scotties for making it a race — their win over Burlington Township on Thursday put Northern in position to clinch, and another win would have put the Falcons in a tie for the title. Bordentown had no stake in the results — just a desire to play some good softball and take momentum into the playoffs. Add a 10-0 win over Moorestown Tuesday and you have to say yes, they certainly did that.

Delran was 0-2 on April 8, with two division losses. One of them was a 5-0 setback to Westampton Tech on the Bears' own field. They won six straight BCSL Patriot games after that one, including a 2-0 victory at the Panthers' field on Friday.

“It feels great,” Delran coach Danielle Worman said. “We did not expect to be in this situation, so we were very happy with the team's performance in winning the Patriot Division championship.”

Northern Burlington's division title was its third in a row. Delran's title was its first since the 2004 season.

Playoffs on tap

Delran will be a second seed in the South Jersey Group 2 bracket, as play gets underway Thursday in the sectional playoffs. Cinnaminson, buoyed by the return of pitcher Riece Onorato, who pitched and won against Maple Shade Friday, will be fourth and will open at home against Haddonfield. Pemberton (12) and Medford Tech (16) will be on the road for first-round games.

Maple Shade and Palmyra are the only county participants in South Jersey Group 1. The sixth-seeded Wildcats will open at home against Clayton, while Palmyra hosts Pennsville in an eight-nine game.

Seneca, a finalist in S.J. Group 3 in the past two seasons, is the fifth seed in that bracket and will host Deptford in its playoff opener, while Moorestown — 10-1 in games outside the BCSL Liberty and seeded sixth — hosts Lacey.

Rancocas Valley is the top seed in S.J. Group 4 and hosts Cherry Hill East in its opening game. Shawnee, the second seed, will entertain Williamstown and third-seeded Cherokee is at home against Toms River North. Lenape is the seventh seed in the bracket and hosts Southern.

Holy Cross is second-seeded in the S.J. Nonpublic B bracket and will open its postseason at home against St. Rose. The third seed is Doane Academy, which hosts Gill St. Bernard.

Burlington Township is the top seed in Central Jersey Group 3, while second-seeded Northern Burlington is at home against Hopewell Valley. Westampton Tech is the seventh seed and hosts Nottingham.

Bordentown is top-seeded in C.J. 2 and will host East Brunswick Tech in the first round.

Riverside is second seeded in C.J. Group 1 and will host Highland Park in the first round. Burlington City also gets a home game; the seventh-seeded Blue Devils host Perth Amboy Tech.

New Egypt, seeded 11th, will be on the road at Keyport. Florence is 16th-seeded and travels to Dunellen.

John A. Lewis, jlewis@thebct.com, JohnLewis19

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